If you enjoyed this video then hop over and watch us fit one of the big side windows HERE kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gMtlmLqdqdHZeX0.html

That idea is priceless. Gas struts could fail due to dirt, while going at 106 lol . youre idea is a lot more secure and saves £200 well done

Amazing! Im in the planning process for building a 4'x8' unistrut roof rack on my 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 7.4L, and you just gave me the solution to correcting my roof angle! Heavy duty hinges! Absolutely beautiful! You're so awesome and you need to keep your mate. She's a keeper because she still laughs at your humor. I just subscribed! Be well and be blessed!

Very nice job. Easy, inexpensive and highly functional. Thanks for the tips. I think I am going to do this. Also, I think if you make your angle holding struts 2 piece (One size large enough for the other piece to slide into) and drilled a few holes along the length then you would have angle adjustment options by just pulling a wing nut off and lowering it or raising it to the next hole.

Nice simple way to mount your panels. I’ll likely use that idea but that’s a pretty cumbersome process for deploying them. Also the angle should ideally be adjustable as a slight change can make a big difference in power output.

This is so fun to watch, and I like the simplicity of your solar panel supports.

Mate, I've literally just ordered my solar panels today, I was just gonna bolt them to the uni strut, but now I seen your tilted big knob screwing thing, you ledge, I love it

"Thinking outside the box!" Yep, you did indeed & I can now safely use my unistrut, springnuts, hinges, rivnuts, square tubing and limited welding skills to make something similar - thanks to you & KZfaq! (edit) Mate, I don't think you know how clever your idea is - it is a stroke of genius - I (& other YT's) can't thank you enough! [subbed]

Great job on the tilting solar system 👏 👍

This is a great idea! My only worry would be forgetting they were tilted up and driving off with them that way. 😩😩😖😖

Quality good idea that the bars are one less thing to fail, might have been a good idea to make them open opposite just so you can catch the sun all day as it moves around. I love these videos no faffing around with calculations amd spreadsheets just crack on and overcome as you go. Also bit of blue for the dads I expected Benny Hill to come out n give Emma a hand to pass the panels up ha, keep it up this is one of my goto channels 👍

It amazes me how you visualize every situation.

I’ll take an Emma free any day! Did you notice how she didn’t laugh when you said the screwing knob would only take 5 minutes 😂😂😂

The banter in this video gave me a much needed smile. Loved the choice in music too. There's something really satisfying about watching things line up. "to get the hot shiny thing"

Another great video 📹 you always overcome obstacles Neil hope to see you soon.

Another great job guys! Finding practical solutions that are simple and low cost (even better) and look totally cool too 😎👍

Thanks for making this video. I am wanting to put tilting solar panels on the side of my van. I think I can use this idea on the side.😎🤩🤗😍😎

Your lady is awesome... Great couple.

Great video. Do you know what the best angle should be used? Winter and summer? Love your humor. Reminds me of Benny Hill.

love it rivet nuts are so badass. planning my 1400kw cargo trailer loved the hinge and strut

Will be looking to do this, but at the moment looking to get another 100w panel then I'll be on it. Thanks for the video upload. Always I good laugh to watch

Great video. I think the ability to tilt is so much better than the flat I have. Great to meet you! Sherry

Loving watching the videos, I’m on second van build now and still enjoy them love too see all the different ideas, keep up the good work! Respect from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Great vid and idea. Learnt a lot as been thinking about vanlife a lot.

Nice idea. I'm trying to think of a way to get a two-way "swivel" so you're not forced (in your case) to point the van West. Or maybe a four-way swivel? Am I asking too much ?!

Great solution, far better than gas struts and actuators, keep it simple. Although, I think I might try to make elbowed struts out of channels that remain attached to the panels and fold down in two sections, with a bolt that keeps them straight and solid when extended.

Every time that van is growing more and more, those panels are beast. I wonder how the beds would look once you place them.

It’s ganna werk, and it werks!!

Absolutely brill. . Love your attitude. . Handy to know. Thanks Mr

You two crack me up :D Your videos are getting better and better each time too.

Great Idea guys, but ..you could do with some sort of electronic warning device so you don't drive off with your solar panels up.

I'm framing a 30cm tall case across my van roof. With venting for smaller homemade fans and maybe a DC powered air conditioner (maxair, fantastic fans are too large). Between the venting will be airtight/watertight storage for surfboards, a kayak, and maybe a waterfoil board. On top of the case would be one or two tiltable solar arrays. Preferably a light one. Reinforced with alluminum, 4 - 5cm thick. Framed with a light wood with sealed plastic panels instead of metal/glass ones. And tiltable with a handcrank. No electric motors. But here's the thing. The whole array cranks over (pistons sliding to the edge inside a rail) out to 185 degrees! Forming an awning over the side doors supported with 3 to 5 telescoping poles. But now on top of it under the panel array is a light, sturdy deck to hang out on. And you can clean the panels from the ground! Now, on top of the van is another deck with plastic panels built into or adjacent to the storage lids. Here now, you have 1 to 2 kilowatts of solar. Enough to top off an electric vehicle or hybrid sitting for a few days, camping. If you smartly decide to install an electric or hybrid engine down the road someday. I'm throwing a few grand at this idea just to see if I can do it. Thanks for your build to give me this hairbrained scheme, if it's possible. I live on the road so it can be a drama project. That's fine. The storage space and increased solar is worth it. And maybe I'll go with cheaper panels like yours because they'll be light enough with piston support.

Great video, subscribed! Hopefully you still check comments on older videos from time to time, but my question is: Now a considerable amount of time has passed and presumably you used this system a lot... Is there anything you would change about it in hindsight? Did you have any issues such as keeping the roof clean, issues with the rack over time, did you end up changing any part of it? Would be great to hear how it performed after using it! Will continue to check comments to see if this has already been answered, thanks for the great videos :-)

You could add two rivnuts for storage of the other bolts.

I love your humor and editing in these videos. 👍😂

Ur a thinker ok smart man ur video great pal keep up the good work 👍👍👍

I've just watched both videos - well done! I'll try to do myself. Where did you get those hinges from?

Hi!! I'm so happy. I bought everything to put the rails on the roof. I will do it with rivnuts as well. Did you seal the bolts or the rivnuts and where? To prevent leaking water. Thanks !!!!!

Great idea man!! I’m jotting this one down 👍🏼 also.. the boingers!lol we call them Zebs like Zebedee off the magic roundabout in the trade ...”sprung slot nuts” is just plain boring!haha 👍🏼 thumbs up

I would love for you to make a video on how you use the rivnut tool. I see you have mentioned it a few times, but I'd like your advice on the right way to use it and the best kind to get. I love your videos btw, I've learned LOADS of tips from you, since I'm trying to do the things you've already done.

great job mate. love your ideas..

Your like Noah building the ark! 🔥👏🏻😂

Outstanding job brother. I will apply this to my Sprinter.

I’m lovin this. Will do this on my sprinter.

great idea but not for me on this idea but like the rails that you fit them on

Very smart what do you do if the sun is rising from the other side of the van ? Turn the van around ?

Is it just me, or could you use hinges and knobs on both sides, thus enabling you to angle and prop it up in either direction?

Niceone I'm just starting my sprinter project

Would've loved to see how you installed the gas struts. Couldn't you have just bought cheaper less powerful struts?

Good stuff Neil! I’m thinking those struts aren’t worth it either, what you ended up is way more reliable!!!

Awesomeness..im going to do the same..im thinking that the legs you made to raise it if they had two bends in the middle you could optionally criss cross mount them shorter for fall sun

Hi, If you used bars with holes all the way down you can tilt the panels in multiple degrees

Brilliant

nice lowtech system. i might imitate that unistrut system. i hope this system is available locally here. Surprised me how cost effective it is.

Love this! Stupid question perhaps but how did you make your bars to hold up the panels? Grind off three sides of a bit of box section steel then bend the remainder over a bit? I don't know shit about metal work so had to ask 😂

Nice one Niel. Great job mate. DEFFO doing this.

Absolutely 💌your channel, and I must say you are my favourite Scoucer on youtube.

Top job buddy. Is there a way to hinge them both sides so you don't have to turn the van around to chase the falling sun?

Good job. What do you think the difference is on a sunny day between flat and tilted ? Cheers

Very resourceful solutions and with a bit of humor

Nice video. 👍

Hello Mate, this is the best solution ive seen so far and looks much more stable than something like the renogy pre made ones yoj can buy. I will be copying with pride ☺. Can i ask where you purchased the uni strut, hinges, sprung nut things and the bars you used instead of pistons?cheers

Bloody ingenious, I will be stealing your idea, so grateful xx

U2 are awesome, fun video your assistant is so cute 👍

Building a van is not hard, just takes time, dedication and research and a can do attitude

Great job mate

Hi, this is great!! Is there any potential problem from multiple panels being tied together through the metal rails and then into the metal van? Like could you get shocked touching the van or anything like that? Also is there any noise driving down the road from the wind flowing under the panels and through the unistruts? I have a normal little roof rack on my other vehicle and it sounds like flutes, dives me nuts lol Thanks!!

great stuff, the slotted channel is the game ganger, just have to make sure you always park the hinges south facing 🤙 have you made 2 lengths of tilt struts one for winter and one for summer?

Hi great video 👍Where did you buy those bars to hold the solar panel ? i couldnt find them online . Thabk you 🙏 Merry Christmas 🎄

Pure Genius, Rugged n Ridged n Safe!

Great job mate an it didn’t have wallet thrown at it 👌🏻👍

Did you fabricate the supports to angle the panels? Id like to see that.. I like the solution for the hinges fitting in the unistrut. Genius.

genius!

Dear Neil and Emma I have got to ask is more costly to run a van to a car. Like tax and insurance,

Nice vid, where did you get the spring washers? Can't seem to find them online but might be searching for the wrong thing. Thanks

That's great. We live on the England / Scotland border and spend a lot of time in Scotland, so we have thought of making our panels tilt, specially for winter. How have the solar panels themselves stood up to being used in this way for the time since you did it? Has anything worn or failed? Thanks, Pete

Good job Guys 👍

Could you of put hinges on those legs and have them fold under the panels

Have you considered screen door pneumatic closers instead of gas struts? They have a locking mechanism to pin them open.

could you have hinged your struts so you don't have to mess about taking them off & putting them on again?

putting the special do-dad brackets on the side of the corners of the panel will let you tilt the panels to either side depending on how you park... I do have to think about carrying a ladder in the van to tilt the panels into the sun to get to that late afternoon or early morning hot sheit... I have this ridiculous rule that every item I take has to serve at least 2 or 3 functions to be allowed on board...

Very cool design! We are thinking of making our solar panels tilt on our Skoolie and this video provides a great design for making that happen! Have you thought about a way to make it tilt in either direction (not just off one side)? That's what we're figuring out right now... Thanks for the insight! - Brian + Erin

Maybe use a 12 volt actuator with a backup camera to inside to raise lower to position. Would not need to lock down either becuase acuators can hold alot of weight. I would mount under the solar panel so the span works better

Hi guys, hope you don’t mind me asking this,sorry if it’s been asked before. It’s been a while now since you did this and I wonder, how often do you tilt your panels?

Superb! Uni-Strut what a great idea. This is the system Ive been looking for 3+ years. Hope to finish my Chevy Express next spring. What did u use to fasten the uni-strut? thanks :D

Do you happen to have links for the brackets and the hinges you used

Genius well done 👍🏻

Boss da la!!

Neil, can you plrase let me know where did you buy those bolts with the black knob that you tighten the bar that lifted up the panel?

Im about to die laughing within the first 2 minutes 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

Slick

In hindsight, any thoughts if the panels should be tilting towards your camper side door or away?

Oh my god I laughed so hard at that first bit.. then even more thoughout. Great video mate 👍 love the comedy music too 😅 Zebedee by the way is the name for the channel nut 😉🤣

Great work yr honour !! A+

Hi great idea fitting hinges to the uni struts Do you have a link to them hinges as can not seem to find any that would accommodate a M8 bolt or did you drill out the holes even larger to fit the M8 bolts? Thanks

Did you customize the bars yourself?

Have you got a link for your whole solar set up m8 batteries panels etc

Excuse me and maybe I missed the question, but at which angle do tilt the panels for a optimal efficiency? Greetings Henk. (NL)

mate that's amazing, how did you make those bars at the end which you used to prop the solar panels up? Or where can I get some?

Is there a possibility of having the support arms sliding along your existing rail? Think a platform lift